QR codes appear on Bengaluru highways- But are they missing the real transparency?

NHAI’s new QR code boards on key Bengaluru highways offer road and emergency details, but commuters question their usefulness as contractor and project accountability information remains absent.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun installing QR code boards along major highways around Bengaluru, aiming to provide commuters with quick access to essential road-related information. While the move is being positioned as a step towards convenience, it has also triggered criticism from road users and netizens who say the system lacks true transparency.

The QR code initiative is already live on the Bengaluru-Nelamangala stretch of NH 48 and the Bengaluru-Kolar-Mulbagal stretch of NH 75. According to NHAI officials, similar QR code boards will be installed within the next month on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad corridor of NH 44 and the Dobbaspet-Devanahalli-Hoskote stretch of NH 648, part of the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road.

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By scanning these QR codes, commuters can instantly access details about the highway section they are travelling on. The information includes whether a toll plaza exists on the route, the length of the road, construction and maintenance timelines, and available roadside facilities. The codes also list nearby wayside amenities such as restaurants, petrol pumps, toilets, rest areas, service stations, EV charging points, puncture repair shops, and truck lay-bys.

A key feature highlighted by NHAI is access to emergency information. The QR codes provide contact details for highway patrol units, resident engineers, project managers, local police stations, and nearby hospitals, allowing motorists to respond quickly during emergencies.

However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism online. Many commuters and netizens have pointed out that the QR codes do not display critical details about the road contractors, including the contractor’s name, project cost, maintenance agency, or grievance and accountability mechanisms. Critics argue that without this information, the QR codes fail to deliver real transparency.

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Several users have also questioned the overall usefulness of the system, noting that most of the information available through the QR codes can already be found on Google. Some have described the boards as a potential distraction on busy highways rather than a meaningful accountability tool.

As QR codes expand to more highways around Bengaluru, public attention is now firmly on whether NHAI will update the system to include contractor details and clear grievance redressal information, aspects many believe are essential for genuine transparency and public trust.